جهدت لأمر خلته مد طاقتي

جهدت لأمر خلته مد طاقتي

I strove for something I thought within my power,

I strived for a matter that exceeded my capacity

And I dressed it up, but fate is shrewder

وكست له لكنما الحظ أكيس

وكست له لكنما الحظ أكيس

And acted shrewdly for it, but fortune was shrewder.

So when it became impossible, I went to seek my companion

But seeking companionship was inauspicious

فلما تعاصى رحت أسعى لصاحبي

فلما تعاصى رحت أسعى لصاحبي

So when it proved intractable, I began striving for my friend,

So I submitted all matters to God

And protected my face with water that cannot be sullied

فخاب كأن السعي للصحب ينحس

فخاب كأن السعي للصحب ينحس

But that failed, as though striving for friends were ill-starred.

And I learned what time has taught

That when destiny speaks, striving becomes mute

فسلمت للَه الأمور جميعها

فسلمت للَه الأمور جميعها

So I entrusted all affairs to God,

And that the children of mankind are of two types: one

Bare, and another who wears whatever he wishes

وصنت لوجهي ماءه لا يدنس

وصنت لوجهي ماءه لا يدنس

And kept the water of my face unsullied.

And my worldly life was married to poetry

I enjoyed her, but the husband was bankrupt

وعلمت ما قد علم الدهر أنه

وعلمت ما قد علم الدهر أنه

And I was taught what time had already taught: that

So I became a Sufi when my goal was absent

Wandering with what I have, a most excellent escape

إذا أنطق المقدور فالسعي أخرس

إذا أنطق المقدور فالسعي أخرس

When fate is made to speak, striving is mute,

وأن بنى الإنسان صنفان واحد

وأن بنى الإنسان صنفان واحد

And that humankind's children are of two kinds: one

عرى وثان كل ما شاء يلبس

عرى وثان كل ما شاء يلبس

Is naked, while the other wears whatever he wishes.

وزف إلى الشعر دنياي زوجة

وزف إلى الشعر دنياي زوجة

And poetry brought my worldly life to me as a wife;

أمتعها لكنما الزوج مفلس

أمتعها لكنما الزوج مفلس

I give her joy, but the husband is penniless.

فأصبحت صوفيا إذا غاب غايتي

فأصبحت صوفيا إذا غاب غايتي

So I became a Sufi: when my goal is out of sight,

غويت الذي عندي ونعم المتنفس

غويت الذي عندي ونعم المتنفس

I fall in love with what I have—what a fine outlet!